Rudder

Abstract

An inboard rudder 6 harbors within a bearing assembly 12 which passes vertically from a hull 10 of a boat 2 to a cockpit floor 8 of the boat 2 such that the inboard rudder 6 can be rotated around a vertical (z) axis 7 by a tiller 14 and raised or lowered by pulling or pushing on the top of rudder 6. Rudder 6 can be rotated about an axis (y) parallel to the width of the boat 2, in the fore and aft direction, by pulling or pushing on tiller 14 thereby altering a sweep angle 28 of the rudder (FIG. 3). Rudder 6 can be rotated about an axis (x) perpendicular to the length of the boat 2.

We, Paul Amon and Glenn Henderson, claim as our invention: 
     
       1. A rudder assembly for inserting into the stern of a boat for steering the boat in water, comprising: a postless rudder having a bottom for extending into the water and steering the boat in the water;   a bearing assembly inserted into the stern of the boat such that it extends from a hull of the boat to a cockpit floor of the boat, said bearing assembly rotatably collaring said rudder such that said rudder is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis within said bearing assembly for steering of the boat.   
     
     
       2. The rudder assembly of claim 1, further comprising a tiller mounted on top of said rudder such that movement of the tiller causes rotation of said rudder. 
     
     
       3. The rudder assembly of claim 1, wherein said rudder further comprises a handle at the top of said rudder such that the rudder can be raised or lowered, more or less, into or out of the water, so that the area of the rudder in contact with the water is variable. 
     
     
       4. The rudder assembly of claim 1, further including means for moving the rudder in a plane perpendicular to said bearing assembly such that said rudder may rotate about a substantially vertical axis, rotate about an axis parallel to the length of said boat or rotate about an axis parallel to the width of said boat. 
     
     
       5. The rudder assembly of claim 1, further comprising a clearance between said rudder and said bearing assembly for moving the rudder in a plane perpendicular to said bearing assembly. 
     
     
       6. An inboard rudder assembly for insertion into a boat stern, comprising: an inboard rudder;   a bearing assembly extending from a cockpit floor of said boat to a hull of said boat, said bearing assembly having a first hole which extends the entire length of said bearing assembly, said hole for harboring said rudder, said bearing assembly further including a top bearing plate which rides on bearings which sit in a bearing race near the cockpit floor, said top bearing plate having a second hole coaxial with said for hole for harboring said rudder;   a bottom bearing plate which rides on bearings which sit in a bearing race near the cockpit floor, said bottom bearing plate having a third hole coaxial with said first and second holes for harboring said rudder;   wherein said top and bottom bearing plates are rigidly connected to one another such that said top bearing plate and bottom bearing plate rotate in unison.     
     
     
       7. The inboard rudder assembly of claim 6, wherein said first hole is larger than said second hole such that the top of said rudder near the cockpit floor can be rotated while the bottom of said rudder near the hull is relatively fixed. 
     
     
       8. The inboard rudder assembly of claim 6, wherein said rudder includes a handle at the top of said rudder near the cockpit floor so that said rudder may be raised or lowered into or out of the water. 
     
     
       9. The inboard rudder assembly of claim 6, wherein said rudder is controlled by a tiller disposed near the top of said rudder near the cockpit floor, said tiller being slidable parallel to said top bearing plate within tracks defining a first axis, said tiller including a slidable plate which slides in a direction perpendicular to said first axis, said slidable plate having a fourth hole--coaxial with said first, second and third holes--in which said rudder harbors.